Examination of craniofacial morphology in 10-month to 5-year-old children with cleft lip and palate.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess craniofacial growth in children from 10 months to 5 years of age with cleft lip and/or palate and to develop a systematic method of cephalometric measurements. A case-control study. Craniofacial unit of a teaching hospital for children. A consecutive series of the first 22 patients with cleft lip and/or palate who underwent early reconstructive treatment [isolated cleft lip (CL) 6; isolated cleft palate (CP) 7; unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) 7; and bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCLP) 2] (mean age, 27.9 months) and 22 age- and sex-matched noncleft children. Lateral cephalometric headfilms of the children were taken using a pediatric cephalostat. Cephalometric landmarks were measured according to Ricketts cephalometry. As compared with controls, CL patients had a lingual position and inclination of maxillary and mandibular incisors, an increase of interincisal angle and a decrease of incisor overjet, an increase in facial convexity, and a decrease in facial depth and mandible body length. In CP patients, palatal plane inclination and mandible arch were significantly reduced. In UCLP patients, there was a decrease in molar relation and incisor overbite, an increase in interincisal angle, reduced position and inclination of maxillary incisors and inclination of mandibular incisors, an increase in facial convexity, and lower facial height. Based on the absence of midface growth reduction, these short-term results suggest a tendency toward normal maxillomandibular growth.